Schwarzenberg: Prague to consult Kosovo position in case independence declared

The Czech foreign minister, Karel Schwarzenberg, has said that Prague will consult its position on Kosovo with other EU countries in the event that independence there is unilaterally declared. A December 10 deadline on talks on the future of the province approaches and there are fears that violence could break out in the still-Serb province if ethnic Albanian leaders decide to eventually declare independence. Mr Schwarzenberg said in Brussels on Friday that he would prefer a UN Security Council decision on the status of Kosovo, but admitted that was unlikely. On Friday, NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer warned that NATO would “act resolutely against anyone seeking to resort to violence” in Kosovo. NATO has confirmed that its 16,000+ troops in the area will stay put to quell any outbreaks.

Author: Jan Velinger